Assessment of Resistance Induction in Mungbean against Alternaria alternata through RNA Interference.

A comprehensive survey of mungbean-growing areas was conducted to observe leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata. Alternaria leaf spot symptoms were observed on the leaves. Diversity of 50 genotypes of mungbean was assessed against A.

REPercussions: how geminiviruses recruit host factors for replication.

Circular single-stranded DNA viruses of the family encode replication-associated protein (Rep), which is a multifunctional protein involved in virus DNA replication, transcription of virus genes, and suppression of host defense responses. Geminivirus genomes are replicated through the interaction between virus Rep and several host proteins. The Rep also interacts with itself and the virus replication enhancer protein (REn), which is another essential component of the geminivirus replicase complex that interacts with host DNA polymerases α and δ.

Genome-Wide Identification, Evolutionary and Mutational Analysis of the Buffalo Sox Gene Family.

The Sox gene family constitutes transcription factors with a conserved high mobility group box (HMG) that regulate a variety of developmental processes, including sex differentiation, neural, cartilage, and early embryonic development. In this study, we systematically analyzed and characterized the 20 Sox genes from the whole buffalo genome, using comparative genomic and evolutionary analyses. All the buffalo Sox genes were divided into nine sub-groups, and each gene had a specific number of exons and introns, which contributed to different gene structures.

Interaction between bacterial endophytes and host plants.

Endophytic bacteria are mainly present in the plant's root systems. Endophytic bacteria improve plant health and are sometimes necessary to fight against adverse conditions. There is an increasing trend for the use of bacterial endophytes as bio-fertilizers.

Emergence of Asian endemic begomoviruses as a pandemic threat.

Plant viruses are responsible for the most devastating and commercially significant plant diseases, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus is the largest one in the family with a single-stranded DNA genome, either monopartite or bipartite. Begomoviruses are transmitted by insect vectors, such as .

Patterns of Genetic Diversity among Alphasatellites Infecting Species.

Alphasatellites are small single-stranded circular DNA molecules associated with geminiviruses and nanoviruses. In this study, a meta-analysis of known alphasatellites isolated from the genus (cotton) over the last two decades was performed. The phylogenetic and pairwise sequence identity analysis suggested that cotton-infecting begomoviruses were associated with at least 12 different alphasatellites globally.

Drought Stress Mitigating Morphological, Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of Guava ( L.) Cultivars.

Guava ( L.), a major fruit crop of the sub-tropical region, is facing a production decline due to drought stress. Morphophysiological responses to drought stress and underlying transcriptional regulations in guava are, largely, unknown.

Interaction of eukaryotic proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) with the replication-associated protein (Rep) of cotton leaf curl Multan virus and pedilanthus leaf curl virus.

The replication-associated (Rep) proteins of pathogenic begomoviruses, including cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV) and pedilanthus leaf curl virus (PeLCV), interact with the DNA replication machinery of their eukaryotic hosts. The analysis of Rep protein sequences showed that there is 13-28% sequence variation among CLCuMuV and PeLCV isolates, with phylogenetic clusters that can separated at least in part based on the country of origin of the respective viruses. To identify specific host factors involved in the virus replication cycle, we conducted yeast two-hybrid assays to detect possible interactions between the CLCuMuV and PeLCV Rep proteins and 30 protein components of the DNA replication machinery.

Journey of begomovirus betasatellite molecules: from satellites to indispensable partners.

Betasatellites are a group of circular, single-stranded DNA molecules that are frequently found to be associated with monopartite begomoviruses of the family Geminiviridae. Betasatellites require their helper viruses for replication, movement, and encapsidation and they are often essential for induction of typical disease symptoms. The βC1 protein encoded by betasatellites is multifunctional that participates in diverse cellular events.

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of tomato leaf curl Palampur virus, a bipartite begomovirus, associated with L. in Pakistan.

Leaf samples of L. () (Family; ) showing vein thickening, mild leaf curling and leaf enations were collected from the farmer's field. Amplification of the full-length viral molecules was performed through rolling circle amplification (RCA).

Non-cultivated Cotton Species ( spp.) Act as a Reservoir for Cotton Leaf Curl Begomoviruses and Associated Satellites.

A collection of cultivated and non-cultivated species of cotton ( spp.) has been maintained for the last four decades in Multan, Pakistan. This geographical location has been observed as a hotspot for the evolution of begomoviruses and satellites associated with cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD).

Characterization, phylogeny and recombination analysis of Pedilanthus leaf curl virus-Petunia isolate and its associated betasatellite.

Background: Geminiviruses cause major losses to several economically important crops. Pedilanthus leaf curl virus (PeLCV) is a pathogenic geminivirus that appeared in the last decade and is continuously increasing its host range in Pakistan and India. This study reports the identification and characterization of PeLCV-Petunia from ornamental plants in Pakistan, as well as geographical, phylogenetic, and recombination analysis.

Structure activity relationship (SAR) and quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies showed plant flavonoids as potential inhibitors of dengue NS2B-NS3 protease.

Background: Due to dengue virus disease, half of the world population is at severe health risk. Viral encoded NS2B-NS3 protease complex causes cleavage in the nonstructural region of the viral polyprotein. The cleavage is essentially required for fully functional viral protein.

Molecular analysis of partial VP-2 gene amplified from rectal swab samples of diarrheic dogs in Pakistan confirms the circulation of canine parvovirus genetic variant CPV-2a and detects sequences of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

Background: The infection in dogs due to canine parvovirus (CPV), is a highly contagious one with high mortality rate. The present study was undertaken for a detailed genetic analysis of partial VP2 gene i.e.

Diversity, Mutation and Recombination Analysis of Cotton Leaf Curl Geminiviruses.

The spread of cotton leaf curl disease in China, India and Pakistan is a recent phenomenon. Analysis of available sequence data determined that there is a substantial diversity of cotton-infecting geminiviruses in Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that recombination between two major groups of viruses, cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV) and cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV), led to the emergence of several new viruses.

Viral Replication Protein Inhibits Cellular Cofilin Actin Depolymerization Factor to Regulate the Actin Network and Promote Viral Replicase Assembly.

RNA viruses exploit host cells by co-opting host factors and lipids and escaping host antiviral responses. Previous genome-wide screens with Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) in the model host yeast have identified 18 cellular genes that are part of the actin network. In this paper, we show that the p33 viral replication factor interacts with the cellular cofilin (Cof1p), which is an actin depolymerization factor.

Characterization of H5N1 influenza A virus that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Saudi Arabia (SA) experienced a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak in domesticated birds in 2007.

Methodology: Forty-three hemagglutinin (HA) and 41 neuraminidase (NA) genes of HPAI H5N1 viruses were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses of completely sequenced genes were performed to compare with other viral HA and NA gene sequences available in the public databases.

Results: Molecular characterization of the H5N1 viruses revealed two genetically distinct clades, 2.

Effect of high temperature on grain filling period, yield, amylose content and activity of starch biosynthesis enzymes in endosperm of basmati rice.

Background: High temperature during grain filling affects yield, starch amylose content and activity of starch biosynthesis enzymes in basmati rice. To investigate the physiological mechanisms underpinning the effects of high temperature on rice grain, basmati rice was grown under two temperature conditions - 32 and 22 °C - during grain filling.

Results: High temperature decreased the grain filling period from 32 to 26 days, reducing yield by 6%, and caused a reduction in total starch (3.

A betasatellite-dependent begomovirus infects ornamental rose: characterization of begomovirus infecting rose in Pakistan.

The Begomovirus genus of the family Geminiviridae comprises the largest group of geminiviruses. The list of begomoviruses is continuously increasing as a result of improvement in the methods for identification. Ornamental rose plants (Rosa chinensis) with highly stunted growth and leaf curling were found in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Yeast screens for host factors in positive-strand RNA virus replication based on a library of temperature-sensitive mutants.

RNA viruses exploit host cells by altering cellular pathways, recruiting host factors, remodeling intracellular membranes and escaping host antiviral responses. Model hosts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), are valuable to identify host factors involved in viral RNA replication. The many advantages of using yeast include the availability of various yeast mutant libraries, such as (i) single gene-deletion library; (ii) the essential gene library (yTHC); and (iii) the yeast ORF over-expression library.

A melting pot of Old World begomoviruses and their satellites infecting a collection of Gossypium species in Pakistan.

CLCuD in southern Asia is caused by a complex of multiple begomoviruses (whitefly transmitted, single-stranded [ss]DNA viruses) in association with a specific ssDNA satellite; Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB). A further single ssDNA molecule, for which the collective name alphasatellites has been proposed, is also frequently associated with begomovirus-betasatellite complexes. Multan is in the center of the cotton growing area of Pakistan and has seen some of the worst problems caused by CLCuD.

Proteome-wide overexpression of host proteins for identification of factors affecting tombusvirus RNA replication: an inhibitory role of protein kinase C.

To identify host genes affecting replication of Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), a small model positive-stranded RNA virus, we overexpressed 5,500 yeast proteins individually in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which supports TBSV replication. In total, we identified 141 host proteins, and overexpression of 40 of those increased and the remainder decreased the accumulation of a TBSV replicon RNA. Interestingly, 36 yeast proteins were identified previously by various screens, greatly strengthening the relevance of these host proteins in TBSV replication.

A high-throughput approach for studying virus replication in yeast.

Viruses are intracellular pathogens that are dependent on viral and host factors for multiplication. Model hosts, such as yeast, can be very valuable in identifying host factors involved in viral replication. Yeast is also useful for studies on functional interactions of host factors with viral proteins and/or virus nucleic acids.